Mushroom poisoning is a serious and sometimes fatal condition that can result from eating wild mushrooms that contain toxic substances. There is a current criminal investigation (summer 2023) in Australia where a woman has been charged with poisoning her in-laws and other family members (Three are confirmed dead at this time, and one is in critical condition). Mushroom poisoning – either by accident or intentionally as an act of murder – is not as uncommon as one would think.
Mushroom Poisoning Statistics
According to the CDC, an estimated 1,328 emergency department visits, and 100 hospitalizations were associated with accidental poisonous mushroom ingestion in 2016. During 2016–2018, 8.6% (48 of 556) of patients who sought care for poisonous mushroom ingestions had a serious adverse outcome.
There are many cases of mushroom poisoning throughout history, some of them involving famous people, or large numbers of victims.
Most Dangerous Mushrooms in the World
Below are just some examples of the many poisonous mushrooms that exist in nature. If you are not sure about the identity of a mushroom, do not eat it or touch it. While you could use a reliable guide, we (and the CDC) strongly suggest consulting an expert before picking or consuming any wild mushrooms. Stay safe and enjoy the beauty of fungi!
Death Cap (Amanita phalloides)
This is the most deadly mushroom in the world, responsible for most cases of mushroom poisoning. It contains amatoxins, which damage the liver and kidneys and can cause coma and death. It looks similar to some edible mushrooms, such as straw mushrooms and Caesar’s mushrooms, which increases the risk of accidental ingestion.
Destroying Angel (Amanita virosa)
This is another lethal mushroom in the genus Amanita, which also contains amatoxins. It is pure white and has a smooth cap, white gills, and a ring on the stem. It grows in woodlands and grasslands in Europe and North America. It causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms, followed by liver and kidney failure.
Webcap (Cortinarius rubellus)
These are a group of mushrooms that contain orellanin, a toxin that causes kidney damage and failure. They have brown caps with web-like veils and rusty spores. They are widespread in temperate regions and can be mistaken for edible mushrooms, such as chanterelles.
False Morel (Gyromitra esculenta)
This is a mushroom that contains gyromitrin, a toxin that affects the nervous system and the liver. It has a wrinkled brown cap that resembles a brain or a sponge. It grows in coniferous forests in Europe and North America. Some people eat it after boiling or drying, but this does not eliminate the toxin completely.
Famous Mushroom Poisoning Cases
Mushroom poisoning is a serious and sometimes fatal condition that can result from eating wild mushrooms that contain toxic substances. There are many cases of mushroom poisoning throughout history, some of them involving famous people or large numbers of victims.
Roman Emperor Claudius
He is said to have been murdered by being fed the death cap mushroom, the most deadly mushroom in the world, by his fourth wife Agrippina in 54 AD. She wanted to clear the way for her son Nero to take the throne. However, this story is disputed by some historians who doubt the reliability of the sources.
Buddha
According to some accounts, he may have died of mushroom poisoning around 479 BC. He ate a meal offered by a blacksmith, which contained some kind of mushroom or truffle that caused him severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. He died peacefully after instructing his followers.
Pope Clement VII
He died in 1534 after eating a plate of death cap mushrooms that were mistaken for edible ones by his cook. He suffered from vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice for several days before succumbing to liver failure.
The Countess of Moray
She was poisoned by her husband, the Earl of Moray, who hired a cook to prepare a dish of deadly webcap mushrooms for her in 1592. He wanted to get rid of her so he could marry another woman. The countess died after three days of agony, and the cook was executed.
The French Revolutionaries
In 1799, a group of French revolutionaries who opposed Napoleon Bonaparte gathered for a banquet in a Paris suburb. They ate a dish of false morel mushrooms, which contain a toxin that affects the nervous system and the liver. About 40 people died and many others became ill.
The German Composer Johann Schobert
Johann Schobert was a German composer who lived in Paris in the 18th century. He and his family ate some poisonous mushrooms that he picked in the woods, thinking they were edible. They all died within hours of ingestion.
The Polish Soldiers
In 1952, a group of Polish soldiers stationed in France ate some death cap mushrooms that they found near their camp. They did not know that these mushrooms were different from the edible ones they were used to in Poland. Out of 12 soldiers who ate the mushrooms, seven died and five survived with permanent liver damage.
The Japanese Schoolchildren
In 1976, a group of schoolchildren and teachers from Tokyo went on a field trip to Nagano Prefecture. They collected some wild mushrooms and cooked them for lunch. Unfortunately, they picked some deadly destroying angel mushrooms, which look similar to some edible ones. Out of 78 people who ate the mushrooms, 11 died and 32 suffered severe liver damage.
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